VARIATIONS OF CLIMATE RHYTHM IN PIEDMONT REGION, ITALY: REFLECTIONS IN THE SUSA VALLEY (SNOW AND TOURISM) AND THE "TERROIR" OF BAROLO (WINE PRODUCTION)

The choice of the Susa Valley is due to the large availability of snow parameters and their co rrect geographical distribution. This study examined the snow cover depth values (and the fresh snow depth, when possible) recorded by Arpa Piemonte and the number of tourists, staying at hotels and extra-hotel facilities in the Turin province, in the 1990-2005 period. Given that this valley shows an alternation of weather types favourable and unfavourable to skiing, two consecutive contrasting seasons have been chosen that will be used to carry out an exhaustive analysis of the variables involved, linked to climate and tourism (FRATIANNI; ZAVATTINI, 2011; FRATIANNI; ZAVATTINI, 2007). Moreover, we have analysed daily climate data provided by 12 weather stations located in the Nebbiolo (Barolo) winegrowing area and also in the surroundings. The main climate limits have been found that interfere with the vine phenological growth, also having recourse to the study of the climate rhythm, thanks to which it was possible to determine the most suitable climate features for wine growing. The study of weather types, carried out by using daily isobar maps, turned out to be very useful to understand the different qualities of wine crops (FRATIANNI; ZAVATTINI, 2009; FRATIANNI; ZAVATTINI, 2006)